Dunedin-based fighter Apii Taia will put his undefeated record on the line in a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout with Cantabrian Jason Koster at the Caledonian this Saturday.
The Taia-Coster fight will headline the Hammerhead promotion, which will feature 15 fights, organiser Howie Booth said.
"We've got a combination of kickboxing and MMA but the majority of the fights are MMA," he said.
The event is expected to attract 800 spectators, with the main fight promising to be an entertaining bout.
Taia, who hails from Invercargill, played rugby league for most of his sporting life.
The undefeated 30-year-old took up fighting two years ago after answering an SOS from his friend and fellow Dunedin fighter, Matt Toa, who needed a big body to spar against while preparing for a bout.
Koster, who fights out of the Strikeforce club in Christchurch, has a black belt in judo and has had some submission bouts and some MMA bouts.
Koster's strength lies in grabbling and submission holds, while Taia is an all-rounder who can slug it out on his feet and is also quite comfortable wrestling.
In mixed martial arts, fighters can kick, punch and wrestle with their opponent.
Fights are won through knockout, decision or one of the fighters conceding, which is done by tapping the floor.
